News Releases

Youth Interns Urged to Champion National Food Security Mission

For Release Upon Receipt - October 5, 2023

St. Augustine


St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. Thursday October 5, 2023 – The University of the West Indies (The UWI) St Augustine Campus, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development and National Service (MYDNS), organized a pre-internship workshop for the initial cohort of the Professional Certificate in Shade House Production and Management. Held at the Sir Frank Stockdale Building at The UWI St. Augustine Campus on October 1st, 2023, the workshop, themed "Professional Development: Think. Plan. Execute.," was facilitated by Mr. Nkosi Felix from Auxilium Services Company Ltd.

  The session was tailored to equip students with essential skill sets crucial for effective communication and success within the agricultural sphere. During the workshop, Professor Mark Wuddivira, Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, stressed the urgency for collective action in addressing the nation's and the region's unsustainable food import bill. Emphasizing the importance of each individual's contribution, he highlighted the critical role that the workshop attendees would play in enhancing food security.

 The Honourable Foster Cummings, Minister of Youth Development and National Service, commended the fifty students who attended the workshop, expressing admiration for their dedication. He lauded their commitment, dispelling misconceptions about youth disinterest in agriculture. Minister Cummings also underscored the significant impact of the Shade House Programme, emphasizing its substantial contribution to the nation’s food and nutrition security.

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Professor Mark Wuddivira Dean, Faculty of Food and Agriculture and [centre right] the Honourable Foster Cummings Minister of  Youth Development and National Service and team at the Shade House Project launch.

  About The University of the West Indies

 The UWI has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development; residing at the centre of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for the past 75 years.

 From a university college of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI is today an internationally respected, global university with near 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Open Campus, and global centres in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.

 The UWI offers over 800 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and wider world.

 The UWI has been consistently ranked among the top universities globally by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). The UWI is the only Caribbean-based university to make the prestigious lists since its debut in the rankings in 2018. In addition to its leading position in the Caribbean in the World University Rankings, it is also in the top 25 for Latin America and the Caribbean and the top 100 global Golden Age universities (between 50 and 80 years old).  The UWI is also featured among the leading universities on THE’s Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns, outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Wellbeing; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

 2023 marks The UWI’s 75th anniversary. The Diamond jubilee milestone themed “UWI at 75. Rooted. Ready. Rising.” features initiatives purposely designed and aligned to reflect on the past, confront the present, and articulate plans for the future of the regional University.

Learn more at www.uwi.edu  

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